SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word dropped a 19-11 slug fest to visiting South Dakota State University this afternoon at home. The Cardinals are now 2-2 on the season, while the Jackrabbits move to 1-3.
After the Cardinals took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, the Jackrabbits tied the game in the top of the third on a double to right-center.
The game did not stay tied for long when Kevin Ramos hit his second home run of the season in the bottom of the third, putting UIW back in front, 2-1.
South Dakota State broke the game open in the fourth when it plated 17 runs on nine hits to take an 18-2 lead.
UIW's Cole Tabor drove in Tony DeJesus from third off a sac-fly to center before Trent Rucker's single to left allowed Cris Enriquez and Colin Cymbalista to make it 18-5 in the fourth.
The Jackrabbits added a run in the fifth to push the lead to 19-5.
The Cardinals, in their half of the seventh, were able to chip away at the lead. It started when Cymbalista singled through the left side and then moved to second when Thomas Lyssy dropped a single into shallow right. UIW loaded the bases when Enrico Carrion walked on six pitches with no outs. Following a pop-up to third, Kevin Ramos' RBI walk drove in Cymbalista to make it 19-6 and reloaded the bases full of Cardinals. A pass ball allowed Lyssy to score to make it 19-7 and move the remaining runners up 90 feet. With one down, Drake Anderson on the second pitch he saw parked a deep fly ball over the left field wall to clear the bases and cut the lead to nine to trail 19-10.
UIW added a run on two outs in the eighth off of Rucker's home run to make it 19-11. The Jackrabbits pitching ended the threat as it secured the final out of the frame and then sat the next three Cardinals down in order in the ninth to lock up the victory.
Both teams combined for 26 hits, 20 walks, five home runs, three doubles, and a triple over nine innings of action.
Cardinal starting pitcher Alejandro Venegas took the loss to fall to 0-1. He scattered four runs (all earned) on three hits over three innings of work, while striking out two.
Ramos, DeJesus, Cymbalista, and Rucker each tallied two hits. Rucker finished the day going 2-for-5 with three RBIs, a home run, and a run scored.
Cymbalista led the team in runs scored with three as he finished the day going 2-for-3 with two walks.
Taber was a perfect 1-for-1 with a triple, two RBIs, and a walk.
UIW is back in action tomorrow when it hosts South Dakota State at 2 p.m. to close out the two-game series.
